Website updated
  04 Feb 2018

Sotai Undo Seminar - Day 1

About 20 students participated on the Saturday session, we started with solo practise, Unsoku, Tandoku undo and associated elements.  A few points were emphasised and the ideas practised, to reinforce the importance of these exercises.  Thinking about each of the five sections of Tandoku undo as being a whole part and not eight separate parts (this is OK for beginners) was a novel challenge for some.  Elements to isolate each hip by rotating without “running away” were studied.  The idea of a belt mounted mobile phone, above the hip, being protected from being snatched as the hip is rotated, but the body as a whole remaining in place was rehearsed on each side. Once understood, five basic atemi waza techniques were practised from this initial movement.  The link between being grasped and being struck by a Tanto was established.  The finer points of Randori-no-kata were practised from a Tanto perspective.  The concept of “Touch-and-Hook”, as a method of lightly taking the Tanto wrist was explored.  Examples of Oshitaoshi as a balance break leading to a more substantial throw were developed and practised.

Combination throws were also investigated, variations of Maeotoshi into Sumiotoshi and then finishing with Hikiotoshi were explored as examples to expand ideas towards Tanto Randori.

Throughout the Seminar the link to the Sotai Undo movements were regularly reinforced.

(Click on frame to play clip)

Sotai Undo Seminar - Day 2

The eight Sotai Undo exercises were formally introduced and studied in detail.  The idea of two states of unbalance, “Hineri” & “Kaeshi” were established.  Particular emphasis was made of the partnership of Tori and Uke to “Play” the game as a exercise to promote good basic movement, rather than the “fight” of Randori thinking.  So that the difficult and “Abstract” approach could be more easily understood the idea of using a fan held in Tori’s hand to magnify the subtle tegatana movements was established.  Maybe some found this a little too far removed from a Martial Art?  But everyone’s movement improved.  To further reinforce the concept of Sotai, the Tandoku Undo was practised was a fan held in one hand.

These exercises soon became known as “FANDOKU UNDO”.

To move away from the abstract approach, practical examples were studied using inside turn, outside turn and a combination of both, when Tori’s wrists were grasped from the front.  This proved to be interesting and challenging and related to examples being used in our “Positive Handling” classes.

To complete the session, some techniques from the kneeling Dai San were looked at, applying the Sotai Undo thinking.